NEW DELHI: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri got emotional on Wednesday while reflecting on Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. Shastri, who shared a successful tenure with Kohli during his captaincy, witnessing several memorable series wins, said the star batter’s exit could have been managed more thoughtfully.Kohli, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011, announced his retirement from the longest format ahead of the England tour. He finishes with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 from 123 Tests, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, making him India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format.“Virat has announced his retirement from Test matches, which is sad, you know, because he’s a great player. A great player. It’s only when you go that people truly realise how big a player you were. Stats don’t do justice — it’s about the way he carried himself, especially as an ambassador for Test match cricket, particularly overseas. The way he played at Lord’s, and how his team turned things around — it was unreal. And I’m glad I was a part of it,” Shastri said.“I feel sad that he’s gone the way he has — suddenly. I think it could have been handled better, maybe with more communication. If I had anything to do with it, I would’ve made him captain straight after Australia,” he added.
Kohli remains India’s most successful Test captain, having led the team to 40 wins in 68 matches. His tenure was defined by a strong pace attack, a commitment to fitness, and a combative brand of cricket that made India a dominant force across conditions.
